Written answers

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Department of Education and Skills

School Staffing

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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495. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 1 July 2014, the number of relief teaching days allocated to teachers on a departmental pension in 201-14 and the current school year at primary and post-primary respectively; the steps being taken to reduce this number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48927/14]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The most recent information available on retired teachers being employed by the managerial authorities of schools relates to the period April to June 2014.

During this period the total number of teaching days that retired teachers worked was 2,657. Retired Primary school teachers worked 1,577 days and retired Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive schools teachers worked 1,080 days.

A total of 348 retired teachers were employed during this period; 198 retired primary teachers and 150 retired voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive teachers were employed. However, 76% of those teachers worked the equivalent of 10 days or less during this 3 month period.

The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the managerial authorities of schools give priority to the employment of unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts.

My Department has issued a number of circulars addressing this issue in recent years. Under the terms of these circulars school Principals must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers who are available for substitute work at short notice and report to the Board of Management on any exceptional occasion where they have to engage a registered teacher who is retired.

A retired teacher who returns to teaching on or after 1 February 2012 commences at the first point of the incremental salary scale. Incremental credit for service prior to 1 February 2012, qualification allowances and certain job role allowances are also not payable.

These measures represents a significant financial disincentive for teachers who retired at the top of their salary scale, often with a post of responsibility allowance, to return to teaching.

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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496. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the negative impact which increases to the minimum pupil numbers needed for maintaining staffing levels in primary schools since budget 2012 has had on schools; if her attention has been further drawn to the threat this has posed to rural schools where enrolment figures often fluctuate and face the loss of teaching staff in instances where pupil numbers dip below a certain figure in any one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48939/14]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. However, this does not mean that small schools can stand still or never have their staffing levels changed to something that is more affordable and sustainable for the challenging times the country has faced in recent years.

The staffing schedule at primary level disproportionally benefits small primary schools. For that reason, as part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools was gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. Even when all of these phased increases are implemented, the threshold for small schools will still be significantly lower than the minimum of 28 pupils that was required for the appointment of the second teacher in schools prior to the mid-1990s.

An appeals process is available to small schools affected by this budget change. A school with four classroom teachers or less which is losing a teacher or failed to gain an additional teacher as a result of the Budget 2012 measures can submit an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Details on the appeals process are made available in the published staffing schedule.

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